וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ׃
Then I will take My hand away and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
Why is this the portion we read for Chol HaMo-eid Pesach?
Rabbi Ronald Shulman, Los Angeles, CA.
On the Shabbat of Passover, we finally have time to rest and reflect. It allows us to focus on the meaning of the holiday, not just the preparation required. "In the Haggadah we read that 'in every generation as person must feel as though he or she had been redeems from Egypt.' Our retelling of the Exodus story is not for memory alone, but for the inspiration we need to understand our opportunities and accept our responsibilities today. In [this] Torah portion...Moses too seeks to confirm his relationships with God in order to continue his task."
On the Shabbat of Passover, we finally have time to rest and reflect. It allows us to focus on the meaning of the holiday, not just the preparation required. "In the Haggadah we read that 'in every generation as person must feel as though he or she had been redeems from Egypt.' Our retelling of the Exodus story is not for memory alone, but for the inspiration we need to understand our opportunities and accept our responsibilities today. In [this] Torah portion...Moses too seeks to confirm his relationships with God in order to continue his task."
How does this verse in particular, relate to Passover?
Kenneth J. Weiss, 2002
"Might not the verse be an abtruse restatement of the mitzvah to observe Passover: return every year to the seder table, eat the special foods, observe the special rites, retell the story of the Exodus."
"Might not the verse be an abtruse restatement of the mitzvah to observe Passover: return every year to the seder table, eat the special foods, observe the special rites, retell the story of the Exodus."
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־כַּפִּ֔י
Then I will take My hand away
I will, year after year, enable you to uncover new meanings and understandings.
וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־אֲחֹרָ֑י
And you will see My back
Every person around the table can, potentially, see My impact, My afteraffect differently every year, especially those who grow sufficiently to ask the wise child's questions.
וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ
And My face must not be seen
Don't attempt to prefigure My role (face) before the annual retelling, for each retelling may lead to new perspective.